Method of packing fruit



May 3, 1930. R. E. wEsTBRo'oK 1,758,771

METHOD OF PACKING FRUIT Filed March 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l In/vento@ wmf RE. Waarom,

May 3, 1930- A R. E. wEsTBRooK 1,758,771

METHOD OF PACKING FRUIT A Filed March 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllllllilll l l HHM 4l I un V MNHN, HHHHH!! 3mm@ Patented May 13,

PATENT l OFFICE ROY E. WESTBROOK, OF ll'sllYUllllETT,KIILID A HIO- l Mmionor PACKING FRUIT Application filed March 5, 1.929. Serial No. 844,424.

, This invention vrelates to the paclng of fruit, such as apples, peaches, or the like, in baskets, especially round-baskets, and 'has for its objects to. facilitate and cheapen the .5 said` operation by eliminating one of the steps of the methods heretofore employed; to avoid all danger of bruising or cutting the fruit, and to produce a neater package which maintains the fruit in better'condition than 1o the packages in common use.

In this and previous similar methods ofl packing fruit in baskets, one of the results aimed at is to so proceed that the top layer of fruit in the lled basket will be regularly arranged and be so maintained during-the handling and shipment of the basket, so as to present the fruit in attractive shape when the basket is opened and the fruitlput on display for sale. This arrangement of the top layer can, of course, be performed by hand, but that requires too much time and skill. AConseuently, meansv have heretoforev been provide in thevshape of a temporary lid, top or closure 'for the'basket, sometimes called a ring facer, having either concentric ribs and intermediate grooves or a pluf rality of depressions or pockets for the fruit, whereby the top layer -is regularlyarranged. 'A paper liner, temporarily surrounded by a metal shell, is then placed on this ring facer and is filled with the rest of the fruit. The shell is then removed and the inverted basket is set down over the filledl liner. v Inall previous methods, as far as I am aware, the filled basket,.with the temporary closure adorded by the ring facer, is' now inverted or set right side up, whereupon the facer is removed and the permanent lid is applied to the open ltop of thebasket and secured thereto.

40 In accordance with my invention, this step of inverting the basket, before the permanent lid is applied, is done away with, and the ring facer, which is of cardboard or the like and thereforequite inexpensive, remains permanently in the shipping lid, in which it is placed before the top layer of fruit is filled in, so that it serves as a cushioning pad to protect said layer.

The means for carrying out my improved method, and their-manner of use, are illustrated in. the accompanying drawing, in which, v l

Fig. 1 is a plan View ofthe ring facer lid liner or pad; n Fig. 2 is a cross section of thevsame,.on 5i line 1-1 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of the shipping -lid with the pad placed therein, ready to receive .the top layer of fruit;

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the top layer 60 filled in;

Fig. 5 is a side view, showing the metal shell, containing the paper liner, set in position on the lid;

Fig. 6 is a similar view with the shell re- 65 moved and the liner `filled with fruit, and

Fig. 7 is a side view showing the inverted basket lowered over the liner, preparatory to being fastened to the lid, and also showing a portion of a press I make use of in this 70 operation.

The ring facer lid liner pad is, as stated, made of cardboard, or the like, and has molded orpressed in it the concentric annular grooves 2. The lid 3 has its inwardly pro- 75 jecting portion or flange 4 of greater depth than is customar and receives the pad within the same. VT e inverted lid, containing the ad, is then placed on a support, such as the bed 5 of the press, shown in Fig. 7 and 8 0 a layer of fruit, which eventually becomes the top layer in the basket, is placed on the pad, litting in the grooves thereof in regular formation. The metal shell 6, containing the paper liner 7, is then set on the lid, fitting .85 around the flange 4. The rest of the fruit is then lled in, whereafter the shell is removed. and the inverted basket is lowered over the liner and pressed down over said flange, as by the pivoted bails or loops 8, which. are pulled Adown by means of the handle 9. The basket and lid are finally fastened together by any of the well known means. The completed package is then ready for shipment. In this Way, the step of inverting the basket before the lid is applied, is eliminated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: l u

1. The method of packing fruit in baskets, 10

' which consists in placin4 a ring facer pad Within the ange of the lnverted lid, filling said pad with a layer of fruit, setting a liner on said lid flange, filling said liner With fruit,

lowering the inverted basket over saidl liner,

and securing said basket and lid together.

2. The method of packing fruit in round baskets, Whichvconsists in laying the inverted basket lid upon a support, placing therein a circular pad, having concentric grooves in its upper surface, arranging a layer of fruit in said grooves, setting a metal shell, containing a-paper liner, on said inverted lid, filling said shell and liner with fruit, removing said shell, lowering the inverted basket over said liner, and fastening said lid and basket together While still in inverted position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 1 ROY E. WESTBROOK.A 

